The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-22
BEARS INVADING FARMS.
THEIR REMARKABLE BOLDNESs IN
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

RoDDeu Dy Ineu-Oue OOOlly WalkS
Through village-Farmer Gentzelrs
Adventure.
From the Ne,o York Sun.
HARRISBURG, Pa, Nov. 1S.-According
to the accounts of hunters, black bear were
never so numerous and bold in Central
Pennsylvania as they are this fall In
Centre county they have walked boldly
into villages, and one was killed the
other day on farm within eight
miles of Bellefonte, the county seat
and home of Gov. Curtin. In Franklin
county, in the North mountain region, bears
invaded the corn fields in such numbers
during the husking season just ended that
great loss was sustained by the farmers in
corn devoured and carried away by the
animals. Over the line in Fulton county,
especially in Tod township, more than one
farmer has been robbed of his winters pork
by marauding bears. In Cumberland
county, near the Perry county line, many
bears have Eeen seen this month and three
killed.
The other day an immense bear was seen
entering the village of Milesburg, Centre
near by. He coolly crossed the iron bridge
over Bald Eagle creek and walked up the
middle of the main street People who
were in the street got quickly out Of it.
Horses snorted and rugged at their tie
straps, but the bear kept on its way. Before
1t had gone far number OF dogs got wind
of it, and appeared upon the scene. The
bear turned and dashed through A. I,
Bogg's front picket fence, smashing it down
AS # it had been made of glass, and took a
short cut out of town for the woods. There
was no one in Milesburg anxious to 60 bear
bunting, and the bear led the dogs long
chase, and returned to the mountains
Two other bears that tried the brave and
lmpudent act at William farmers, near the
Loop in Centre county, on Tuesday night,
did not fare as we'll as the lone visitor at
Miesburg Farmer end his wife were re
turning home from a neighbours, about
o'clock, when they saw bear walk out of
their front yard, shuttle across the road
ahead of them, and stop under tree in a
field few yards away. As they stood look
ing at the impudent bear, another one cane
sliding down out of the tree and joined the
one at the foot OF the tree Then the first
bear climbed the tree, and, after
reaching the branches, slid back
down, as his mate had done, and
then the latter repeated the per-
Torrance. While the two bears were hav-
ing this cheeky sport between themselves,
paying no attention to the spectators,
Farmer told his twife to go into the house
and get his gun, his revolver and his ak.
By the time she returned prayer meeting
was over in the village, and the people Were
returning home. They all stopped to see
the extraordinary sight of two genuine
wild bears having a circus under the
noses of twenty spectators. The bears
paid not the slightest attention to
the people, but took turns in climbing
and sliding down the tree. Farmer sent a
load of buckshot into one of the bears as it
stood on the ground waiting for its turn to
climb, and it hmped hurriedly off toward
the woods, bowling fearfully. The other
bear did not slide down the tree that trip,
but remained among the branches. Farmer
went closer, and bonbarded the bear as it
perched in lie tree, but he shot it four
times, literally Kidding it with buckshot,
before it fell to the ground. 1t was at once
set upon with poles, clubs and axes by the
crowd, and the little life left in it was
beaten out
The Gentzell farm is two miles south of
Bellefonte. at the foot of Bald Eagle Noun
tain. A few days ago John Gentzell, who
owns the farm, was told by a neighbOr that
a big bear was in his cornfield stripping the
shocks and playing hob generally. Farmer
Gentzell is no hunter, but he keeps gun,
and, taking it with him. he went to his
cornfeld, which was in sight of his house,
to see if there really was a bear there husll-
ing his crop, Sure enough, an enormous
black fellow stood at one of the shocks, scat
tering the stalks about and stripping
off the ears. Gentzell gave bruin one
charge from his rifle The bear jumped
into the air and fell back fat ON the ground.
The farmer supposed that he had killed his
game. but whiis he was loading his gun the
bear jumped up and slouched away and dis
appeared among the corn shocks. Gentze1
followed him, expecting every moment to
come upon his dead body, but was surprised
TO discover him at the other end of the field,
working away at another shock of corn as
If nothing had happened.
Gentzell then shouted to his brother Hen
ry who was a work in another field, and
while Henry was on his way to join him
John put two more balls into the bear. Bruin
then made for the mountains, limping along
on three legs. The brothers followed him,
and fourth shot was fred into him. This did
not finish the tough old customer, and now
thoroughly aroused he turned on his pursu-
ers, and rushed upon Henry GentZell in
such furious charge that the farmer was
PROSTATE on tn ground, with the bear
paving and chewing at his leg,
before he knew what had happened. 1t
was lucky for GentZel that his btother was
there, for the bear would have torn him to
pieces in a minute more The brother sprang
forward, and with one blow Of the heavy
rife broke the bears back, and the fierce
brute fell over and died he flesh was torn
from Henry Gentzells leg from the knee
down. The bear was one of the biggest ones
ever killed in the county, weighing between
500 and 400 pounds.
Three boys were hunting rabbits on Ties
day near Cowan's Gap, in Franklin county
They started a rabbit and it ran into a corn
shock. One of the boys went to the shock
to kick it and scare the rabbit out, while
the two others stood ready to shoot it. The
rabbit jumped out of one side, but neither
boy shot it, for on the other side a bear
tumbled out and surveyed the youthful
hunters in establishment. The rabbit got
away, and so did the boys The bear was
afterward killed in the same field by a
farmer named Wagner.